South West Lakes Trust Trout Fisheries Report
August 2024
Generally a very warm and humid month, with water temperatures rising; this has meant that many fish have often sought the deeper, cooler parts of the reservoirs, and while some fish have continued to rise to the surface to feed, deeper fished flies on sinking lines often proved more successful.
Fishing:
Kennick – A more challenging month at Kennick, and anglers have had to vary tactics according to conditions, with both sinking lines fished with lure patterns (Blobs, Black Boobies and Woolly Buggers), and floating lines fishing either dry patterns (Dry Sedges, foam beetles) or nymph patterns (Damsels, Diawl Bachs and Montanas) catching fish, mainly using a slow retrieve. Smithacott Bank, Poplar Bay, Clampitts and The Lawns all produced fish for bank anglers, while boat anglers managed to pick up fish in the deeper central water. Alex Venn (from Willand) enjoyed a great float-tubing session while fishing from early morning through to mid-day – he caught seven rainbows on sunk patterns using a Di3 line while fishing between the dam and Oak Tree Point. Levels are now down to 75% full.
Siblyback – The catch rate fell this month with the hotter conditions, and anglers averaged just over a fish per visit. The most productive locations included Stocky Bay, Crylla Bay, Two Meadows and The North Shore, with most fish being caught on floating lines, using either dry patterns (Claret Hoppers, Bob’s Bits, foam Beetles and Hawthorns) or sunk patterns (Damsels, Montanas, Buzzers, or Orange Blobs and Lures). Ben Lang (from Launceston) caught three browns up to sixteen inches, using a Soldier Palmer variant fished from the bank at Crylla. Levels are now around 70% full.
Burrator – Intermediate, Floating and Sinking lines all caught fish at Burrator, with most fish being caught in the top eight feet of water, usually with a slow or medium retrieve. Longstone, Sheepstor and Back Bay produced the best fishing, although nowhere was easy. Anglers managed to catch some fish on dry patterns (Sedgehog, Bob’s Bits, Crane Fly), but most were caught on Nymphs (Damsels, Buzzers, Hares Ears) or Lures (Goldhead Fritz). The water level is now 65% full.
Stithians – The catch rate at Stithians fell to less than one trout per visit, with Sluice Bank, Hollis, Pipe Bay, Mossopps and Goonlaze proving to be the most likely locations to catch. The fish were still looking up to feed, and so floating lines with surface patterns (Griffiths Gnat, Daddy Longlegs, Bob’s Bits, Beetles and Sedge patterns) or nymphs fished just below the surface produced the best results. Levels are down to 65% full.
Fernworthy – Tough fishing in August, improving to two fish per visit toward the end of the month. Fish were spread out around the lake, with Permit Hut Bank, South Bank, Lowton Bay and the picnic area producing the best sport. There were plenty of midge hatches, which meant that fish were looking up to feed, and so were caught on Bristol Hoppers, Black Gnats, Hawthorns, Sedges and beetle patterns; otherwise subsurface Invictas, Cormorants and Zulus all caught fish. Patrick Murphey (from Plymouth) managed to catch three browns in one session, missing a good half dozen other snatches at his fly – there were the occasional violent rises throughout the day, but these were probably fish trying to grab mating damselflies.
Colliford – Here the excellent sport enjoyed by anglers earlier in the season continued, with anglers averaging four fish per visit (up to 6.7 in one week). Floating lines proved to be order of the day, with fish being caught on the surface (Hoppers, Sedges, Beetles and CDC Emergergers) or just below (Hares Ear, Diawl Back, Bibio, Soldier Palmer, Pheasant Tail, Black and Peacock and Invicta), with fish well spread out around the lake (Middle Car Park, Redhill and the deeper water by the dam all produced good sport). Ben Garnett (from Kenn) caught nine browns, all on various Hoppers, fishing the bank between the Spillway and Redhill Point.
Roadford – Shop Bank produced the best and most consistent sport, with fish rising to Daddy Longlegs and Hoppers fished on a floating line and long leader, or taking Goldhead nymphs just below the surface.
Please see the Trust’s website (www.swlakestrust.org.uk/trout-fishing) for more information on buying tickets, boat availability and booking, and forthcoming events. The Trust, in conjunction with Fluff Chuckers, will be running a Brown Trout Masters competition this season, to be held over three dates at Colliford, Fernworthy and Roadford – please see the website for more information.
Chris Hall (August 2024)
Wistlandpound
